	Name	Purchased for ($)	Purchased for, Per Piece ($)	Link	Made In
	VARTA	$16.00	$0.16	Search on Amazon	Indonesia
Alkaline AA, $16 for 100 cells — the cheapest battery here by a wide margin. Claimed 10-year shelf life. Measured 23.32 g, 1.61 V at rest, 78 mΩ internal resistance, and 2,053 mAh at a 0.3 A draw.
	Amazon Basics Industrial	$12.00	$0.30	Search on Amazon	China
Alkaline AA, $12 for 40 cells, with a 5-year claimed shelf life. Measured 22.70 g, 1.60 V, 102 mΩ — the highest alkaline resistance in the group — and 2,309 mAh.
	Voniko	$8.00	$0.33	Search on Amazon	Vietnam
Alkaline AA, $8 for 24 cells, marketed as ultra long-lasting and leak proof with a 10-year shelf life. Measured 23.13 g, 1.60 V, and 98 mΩ, holding 1.05 V under a 1.25 A load.
	Thunderbolt Magnum	$8.00	$0.33	Search on Amazon	Vietnam
Alkaline AA sold by Harbor Freight, $8 for 24 cells. Measured 23.08 g, 1.60 V, 83 mΩ, and 2,368 mAh.
	EBL	$7.00	$0.35	Search on Amazon	China
Alkaline AA, $7 for 20 cells, with a claimed 10-year shelf life. Measured 22.32 g, 1.63 V, 99 mΩ, and 2,333 mAh. Faded early in the cold test at 0.75 V.
	ACDelco UltraMax	$9.00	$0.45	Search on Amazon	China
Alkaline AA, $9 for 20 cells, with a claimed 10-year shelf life. The heaviest alkaline at 24.00 g, measuring 1.59 V, a low 71 mΩ, and 2,049 mAh.
	Amazon Basics (High Performance)	$	$0.50	Search on Amazon	Vietnam
Alkaline AA at 50 cents a cell, with a claimed 10-year shelf life. Measured 23.41 g, 1.60 V, 84 mΩ, and 2,436 mAh — the strongest alkaline capacity until the Energizer Max ran.
	Thunderbolt Edge	$9.00	$0.50	Search on Amazon	China
Alkaline AA sold by Harbor Freight, $9 for 18 cells, marketed to outlast the Magnum. The heaviest cell in the comparison at 24.38 g, with 1.60 V, 66 mΩ — tied for the lowest — and 2,367 mAh.
	Rayovac Fusion	$16.00	$0.53	Search on Amazon	Indonesia
Alkaline AA, $16 for 30 cells, carrying a 15-year power guarantee and leak protection. Measured 23.67 g, 1.59 V, 83 mΩ, and 2,406 mAh.
	Energizer (Everyday Alkaline)	$11.00	$0.55	Search on Amazon	Indonesia
Alkaline AA, $11 for 20 cells, with a claimed 10-year shelf life. Measured 23.25 g, 1.61 V, 92 mΩ, and 1,866 mAh — the lowest capacity of any cell here — though it was among the better alkalines in the cold at 0.97 V.
	Powermax	$7.00	$0.58	Search on Amazon	Vietnam
Alkaline AA, $7 for 12 cells, with a claimed 10-year shelf life. Measured 23.08 g, 1.60 V, 92 mΩ, and 2,132 mAh. Weakest under load at both room temperature (0.97 V) and after the freezer soak (0.67 V).
	Panasonic	$34.00	$0.71	Search on Amazon	Thailand
Alkaline AA, $34 for 48 cells, claiming 33% longer life than Power Plus and a shelf life up to 10 years. Measured 23.51 g, 1.60 V, 90 mΩ, and 2,070 mAh.
	Energizer Max	$17.00	$0.71	Search on Amazon	Indonesia
Alkaline AA, $17 for 24 cells, with a 15-year shelf life and a claim of up to 50% longer life than everyday alkalines. Measured 23.78 g, 1.60 V, 82 mΩ, and 2,584 mAh — the highest alkaline capacity in this comparison.
	Duracell	$17.00	$0.85	Search on Amazon	USA (assembled)
Alkaline AA, $17 for 20 cells, claimed leak proof for up to 12 years. Measured 23.05 g, 1.67 V, 66 mΩ, and 2,465 mAh, and it held the best alkaline voltage under a 1.25 A load at 1.27 V.
	Maxell	$9.00	$0.90	Search on Amazon	China
Alkaline AA, $9 for 10 cells — the most expensive alkaline per battery. The lightest alkaline at 22.04 g, with 1.61 V, 98 mΩ, and 2,147 mAh.

	Name	Purchased for ($)	Purchased for, Per Piece ($)	Link	Made In
	Energizer Ultimate Lithium	$20.00	$2.50	Search on Amazon	Singapore
Lithium AA, non-rechargeable, $20 for 8 cells, rated for up to 25 years in storage. The lightest cell in the comparison at 14.83 g, with 1.79 V, 155 mΩ, and 3,635 mAh — the highest capacity measured. Best cold performance at 1.20 V and first overall.
	POWEROWL	$19.00	$1.58	Search on Amazon	China
Lithium AA, non-rechargeable, $19 for 12 cells, with a three-layer safety and leak-proof design. Measured 15.80 g, 1.79 V, 154 mΩ, and 3,514 mAh, and held 1.05 V in the cold — better than any alkaline. Second overall.
	PKCELL	$16.00	$1.33	Search on Amazon	China
Lithium AA, non-rechargeable, $16 for 12 cells — the cheapest lithium here. Claimed 3,400 mAh and 20-year storage. Measured 15.70 g, 1.78 V, 130 mΩ, and 3,513 mAh. Third overall.
	BEVIGOR	$17.00	$1.42	Search on Amazon	China
Lithium AA, non-rechargeable, $17 for 12 cells. Claimed 3,500 mAh, leak proof, and a flat 1.5 V until discharge. Measured 15.73 g, 1.80 V, 114 mΩ, and 3,552 mAh — second-highest capacity. Best under a 1.25 A load at 1.27 V, but the weakest lithium in the cold at 0.82 V.
	Enegitech	$37.00	$1.54	Search on Amazon	China
Lithium AA, non-rechargeable, $37 for 24 cells, claiming 8–10× the life of an alkaline. Measured 15.53 g, 1.77 V, 192 mΩ, and 3,317 mAh. Led the flashlight runtime test through its first four hours.
	Allmax	$25.00	$1.56	Search on Amazon	China
Lithium AA, non-rechargeable, $25 for 16 cells. Claimed 20-year shelf life, leak proof, and a −40 °F to 140 °F operating range. Measured 15.91 g, 1.77 V, 196 mΩ, and 3,451 mAh.
	Rayovac (Lithium)	$38.00	$1.58	Search on Amazon	Singapore
Lithium AA, non-rechargeable, $38 for 24 cells, with a 20-year storage guarantee and a claim of up to 50% longer life. The lightest lithium apart from the Energizer at 15.00 g, with 1.78 V, 135 mΩ, and 3,492 mAh. Second-best in the cold at 1.12 V.
	Granicell	$19.00	$1.58	Search on Amazon	China
Lithium AA, non-rechargeable, $19 a pack. Claimed 3,500 mAh, a 10-year shelf life, and leak-proof construction. The heaviest lithium at 15.96 g, with 1.80 V, 146 mΩ, and 3,449 mAh.
	PHILIPS	$30.00	$1.88	Search on Amazon	China
Lithium AA, non-rechargeable, $30 for 16 cells, claiming up to 291% more power and up to 7× the life of an alkaline. Measured 15.76 g, 1.77 V, 125 mΩ, and 3,529 mAh — third-highest capacity — plus 1.05 V in the cold.
	POWXS	$15.00	$1.88	Search on Amazon	China
Lithium AA, non-rechargeable, $15 for 8 cells. Claimed low self-discharge for up to 10 years and a −68 °F to 140 °F range. Measured 15.88 g, 1.77 V, 207 mΩ — the highest resistance in the comparison — and 3,403 mAh.
	Blinkspower	$19.00	$2.38	Search on Amazon	China
Lithium AA, non-rechargeable, $19 for 8 cells, claiming up to 3,500 mAh. Measured 15.62 g, 1.61 V, 100 mΩ — the lowest resistance of any lithium — and 3,429 mAh.

	Name	Purchased for ($)	Link
	Eneloop	$	Search on Amazon
NiMH rechargeable AA, seven years and roughly 2,500 cycles into daily service in solar lights. Comfortably the healthiest survivor: 1.45 V charged, just 48 mΩ of internal resistance, 0.90 V under a 1.25 A load, and 1.13 W — the most power in the group. Capacity now 1,688 mAh.
	IKEA	$	Search on Amazon
NiMH rechargeable AA. Charged to 1.50 V with 547 mΩ of internal resistance and dropped to 0.45 V under load, but held on to 2,094 mAh — second-highest remaining capacity.
	EBL (Rechargeable)	$	Search on Amazon
NiMH rechargeable AA. Internal resistance climbed to 782 mΩ and it managed only 0.37 V under load, yet it still returned 1,813 mAh.
	Amazon Basics Black	$	Search on Amazon
NiMH rechargeable AA, and much the better of the two Amazon Basics rechargeables: 1.46 V charged, 293 mΩ, 0.60 V under a 1.25 A load, 0.75 W, and 1,675 mAh.
	Thunderbolt (Rechargeable)	$	Search on Amazon
NiMH rechargeable AA from Harbor Freight. Charged to 1.45 V with 542 mΩ, falling to 0.45 V at a 1.07 A draw, with 1,614 mAh remaining.
	Energizer (Rechargeable)	$	Search on Amazon
NiMH rechargeable AA. Charged to 1.43 V with roughly 446 mΩ of internal resistance, collapsing to 0.45 V under load, with 1,523 mAh remaining.
	Active Energy	$	Search on Amazon
NiMH rechargeable AA that entered the long-term test about a year late. Second-lowest resistance in the group at 116 mΩ, with 0.75 V under a 1.25 A load and 0.94 W, but only 1,098 mAh left.
	Rayovac (Rechargeable)	$	Search on Amazon
NiMH rechargeable AA. Charged to 1.41 V but with 1,031 mΩ of internal resistance and 0.37 V under load, leaving 1,016 mAh.
	Amazon Basics Silver	$	Search on Amazon
NiMH rechargeable AA. Charged to only 1.35 V, with internal resistance past 1,000 mΩ and 0.22 V under a 1.25 A load. No usable capacity remains.
	Power X	$	Search on Amazon
NiMH rechargeable AA. No usable capacity remains after seven years of daily cycling.

Rank	Product	Result
1	Energizer Ultimate Lithium	3635
2	BEVIGOR	3552
3	PHILIPS	3529
4	POWEROWL	3514
5	PKCELL	3513
6	Rayovac (Lithium)	3492
7	Allmax	3451
8	Granicell	3449
9	Blinkspower	3429
10	POWXS	3403
11	Enegitech	3317
12	Energizer Max	2584
13	Duracell	2465
14	Amazon Basics (High Performance)	2436
15	Rayovac Fusion	2406
16	Thunderbolt Magnum	2368
17	Thunderbolt Edge	2367
18	EBL	2333
19	Amazon Basics Industrial	2309
20	Maxell	2147
21	Powermax	2132
22	Panasonic	2070
23	VARTA	2053
24	ACDelco UltraMax	2049
25	Energizer (Everyday Alkaline)	1866

Rank	Product	Result
1	BEVIGOR	1.80
2	Granicell	1.80
3	POWEROWL	1.79
4	Energizer Ultimate Lithium	1.79
5	PKCELL	1.78
6	Rayovac (Lithium)	1.78
7	Enegitech	1.77
8	Allmax	1.77
9	PHILIPS	1.77
10	POWXS	1.77
11	Duracell	1.67
12	EBL	1.63
13	VARTA	1.61
14	Energizer (Everyday Alkaline)	1.61
15	Maxell	1.61
16	Blinkspower	1.61
17	Amazon Basics Industrial	1.60
18	Voniko	1.60
19	Thunderbolt Magnum	1.60
20	Amazon Basics (High Performance)	1.60
21	Thunderbolt Edge	1.60
22	Powermax	1.60
23	Panasonic	1.60
24	Energizer Max	1.60
25	ACDelco UltraMax	1.59
26	Rayovac Fusion	1.59

Rank	Product	Result
1	Energizer Ultimate Lithium	14.83
2	Rayovac (Lithium)	15
3	Enegitech	15.53
4	Blinkspower	15.62
5	PKCELL	15.70
6	BEVIGOR	15.73
7	PHILIPS	15.76
8	POWEROWL	15.80
9	POWXS	15.88
10	Allmax	15.91
11	Granicell	15.96
12	Maxell	22.04
13	EBL	22.32
14	Amazon Basics Industrial	22.70
15	Duracell	23.05
16	Thunderbolt Magnum	23.08
17	Powermax	23.08
18	Voniko	23.13
19	Energizer (Everyday Alkaline)	23.25
20	VARTA	23.32
21	Amazon Basics (High Performance)	23.41
22	Panasonic	23.51
23	Rayovac Fusion	23.67
24	Energizer Max	23.78
25	ACDelco UltraMax	24
26	Thunderbolt Edge	24.38

Rank	Product	Result
1	Duracell	1.27
2	BEVIGOR	1.27
3	VARTA	1.20
4	Thunderbolt Magnum	1.20
5	Amazon Basics (High Performance)	1.20
6	Thunderbolt Edge	1.20
7	Energizer (Everyday Alkaline)	1.20
8	Panasonic	1.20
9	Maxell	1.20
10	Rayovac (Lithium)	1.20
11	Granicell	1.20
12	POWEROWL	1.20
13	Energizer Ultimate Lithium	1.20
14	Energizer Max	1.12
15	PKCELL	1.12
16	Amazon Basics Industrial	1.05
17	Voniko	1.05
18	EBL	1.05
19	ACDelco UltraMax	1.05
20	Rayovac Fusion	1.05
21	Enegitech	1.05
22	Allmax	1.05
23	PHILIPS	1.05
24	POWXS	1.05
25	Blinkspower	1.05
26	Powermax	0.97

Rank	Product	Result
1	Varta (Rechargeable)	2277
2	IKEA	2094
3	EBL (Rechargeable)	1813
4	Eneloop	1688
5	Amazon Basics Black	1675
6	Thunderbolt (Rechargeable)	1614
7	Energizer (Rechargeable)	1523
8	Active Energy	1098
9	Rayovac (Rechargeable)	1016
10	Amazon Basics Silver	0
11	Duracell (Rechargeable)	0
12	Power X	0

Best AA Batteries: 26 Brands Tested for Capacity, Cold, and Runtime

Top Picks

Alkaline Batteries

Lithium Batteries

Rechargeable Batteries

Price

Price Per Battery

Capacity at a 0.3 A Discharge

Voltage Out of the Package

Internal Resistance

Battery Weight

Voltage Under a 1.25 A Load

Voltage Under a 1.25 A Load After a Freezer Soak

Rechargeable Capacity After Seven Years in Service

Rechargeable Internal Resistance After Seven Years in Service

The Verdict

Related Tests

Top Picks

Alkaline Batteries

Lithium Batteries

Rechargeable Batteries

Price

Price Per Battery

Capacity at a 0.3 A Discharge

Voltage Out of the Package

Internal Resistance

Battery Weight

Voltage Under a 1.25 A Load

Voltage Under a 1.25 A Load After a Freezer Soak

Rechargeable Capacity After Seven Years in Service

Rechargeable Internal Resistance After Seven Years in Service

The Verdict